Writing, Research, Documentation Sites

For a printable copy, click here:brainteasers lsit
Day 1
Brainteaser
– 1. Why can’t a man living in St. Louis be buried east of the Mississippi?
Answer: Because he is still alive!
1. You throw a baseball away from you as hard as you can. It doesn’t hit anything; it’s not caught; and it doesn’t have an elastic attached. Yet it comes back to you. Why?

Day 2
Brainteaser
1. You throw a baseball away from you as hard as you can. It doesn’t hit anything; it’s not caught; and it doesn’t have an elastic attached. Yet it comes back to you. Why?
Answer: Because you threw it straight up into the air.
2. Do they have a 4th of July in England?

Day 3
Brainteaser
2. Do they have a 4th of July in England?
Answer: Sure they do, along with a 5th, 6th, 7th ….
3. If you had only one match and entered a dimly lit room in which there was a kerosene lamp, an oil burner, and a wood-burning stove, which would you light first?

Day 4
Brainteaser
3. If you had only one match and entered a dimly lit room in which there was a kerosene lamp, an oil burner, and a wood-burning stove, which would you light first?
Answer: The match!
4. How far can a dog run into the woods?

Day 5
Brainteaser
4. How far can a dog run into the woods?
Answer: Half-way. Once the dog reaches the half-way point, it is running out of the woods.
5. During an official, major league, baseball game, what is the minimum number of active players on the field during any part of an inning?

Day 6
Brainteaser
5. During an official, major league, baseball game, what is the minimum number of active players on the field during any part of an inning?
Answer: Ten — the nine players playing defense, plus the batter from the opposing team.
6. You have two United States coins which together total 55 cents, but one is not a nickel. What are the two coins?

Day 7
Brainteaser
6. You have two United States coins which together total 55 cents, but one is not a nickel. What are the two coins?
Answer: One is a 50-cent piece; the other is the nickel.
7. A farmer had 17 sheep; all but 9 died. How many did he have left?

Day 8
Brainteaser
8. A farmer had 17 sheep; all but 9 died. How many did he have left?
Answer: The nine which hadn’t died, of course.
9. A woman gives a beggar $1.00. The woman is the beggar’s sister, but the beggar is not the woman’s brother. Why not?

Day 9
Brainteaser

9. A woman gives a beggar $1.00. The woman is the beggar’s sister, but the beggar is not the woman’s brother. Why not?
Answer: Because the beggar is the woman’s sister.
10. According to the Bible, how many animals of each species did Moses take aboard the ark with him?

Day 10
Brainteaser

10. According to the Bible, how many animals of each species did Moses take aboard the ark with him?
Answer: None. Moses wasn’t there; it was Noah’s ark.
11.Is it legal in Missouri for a man to marry his widow’s sister?

Day 11
Brainteaser

11.Is it legal in Missouri for a man to marry his widow’s sister?
Answer: Nope. If his wife is his widow, he’s dead!
12. An archaeologist says she has found some authentic coins dated 45 B.C. Is this possible?

Day 12
Brainteaser

12. An archaeologist says she has found some authentic coins dated 45 B.C. Is this possible?
Answer: Nope. If the coins were minted 45 years before the birth of Christ, the people who minted the coins would not have known the date of his birth!
13. What four words appear on every U. S. Government coin besides “In God We Trust?”

13. What four words appear on every U. S. Government coin besides “In God We Trust?”
Answer: “United States of America.”
14. Some months have 30 days; some have 31. How many have 28?

14. Some months have 30 days; some have 31. How many have 28?
Answer: They all do, of course — along with the 27 days preceding the 28th in each case.
15. If you take two apples from three apples, how many do you have?

15. If you take two apples from three apples, how many do you have?
Answer: The two taken, of course.
16. A doctor gives you three pills and tells you to take one every half hour. If you follow his instructions, how long will they last?

16. A doctor gives you three pills and tells you to take one every half hour. If you follow his instructions, how long will they last?

Answer: One hour. The first pill is taken at the beginning of the hour, the second is taken at half-past the hour, and the third is taken at the end of the hour.
17. Mentally divide 30 by one half and add 10. What is the answer?

17. Mentally divide 30 by one half and add 10. What is the answer?
Answer: 70. (30 divided by one half equals 60 halves, and 60 plus 10 equals 70)
18. You have 4 1/2 hay stacks, 2 1/4 hay stacks, and 3 1/8 hay stacks, and you put them all together. How many hay stacks do you have?

18. You have 4 1/2 hay stacks, 2 1/4 hay stacks, and 3 1/8 hay stacks, and you put them all together. How many hay stacks do you have?
Answer: One. They are, after all, “all together” now.
19. There is a ten-foot steel ladder attached to the side of a boat. The rungs on the ladder are exactly one foot apart, with the bottom rung resting on the surface of the water. If the tide rises one foot every half hour, how long will it take to cover the first three rungs of the ladder?

19. There is a ten-foot steel ladder attached to the side of a boat. The rungs on the ladder are exactly one foot apart, with the bottom rung resting on the surface of the water. If the tide rises one foot every half hour, how long will it take to cover the first three rungs of the ladder?

Answer: The tidewater will never cover the first three rungs of the ladder because the boat on which the ladder is attached will rise with the tide. It’s a boat, after all; it floats!
20. The sign below was seen in a small Italian town. Please put it into correct English.
TOTI
EMUL
ESTO

20. The sign below was seen in a small Italian town. Please put it into correct English.
TOTI
EMUL
ESTO
Answer: “TO TIE MULES TO”
21. An Arab sheikh tells his two sons to race their camels to a distant city to see who will inherit his fortune. The one whose camel is slower will win. The brothers, after wandering aimlessly for days, ask a wise man for advice. After hearing the advice they jump on the camels and race as fast as they can to the city. What does the wise man say?

21. An Arab sheikh tells his two sons to race their camels to a distant city to see who will inherit his fortune. The one whose camel is slower will win. The brothers, after wandering aimlessly for days, ask a wise man for advice. After hearing the advice they jump on the camels and race as fast as they can to the city. What does the wise man say?

Answer: The wise man told them to switch camels. After all, the slower camel, not the brother who is racing it, will determine the winner of the inheritance. Therefore, if Brother A gets Brother B’s camel to the finish line first, Brother A wins! And vice versa.
22. How many flowers do I have if all of them are roses except two, all of them are tulips except two, and all of them are daisies except two?

22. How many flowers do I have if all of them are roses except two, all of them are tulips except two, and all of them are daisies except two?
Answer: Three.
23. I know a word of letters three. Add two, and fewer there will be. What’s the word?

23. I know a word of letters three. Add two, and fewer there will be. What’s the word?
Answer: Few.
24. A man rode into town on Friday. He stayed for three nights and then left on Friday. How come?

24. A man rode into town on Friday. He stayed for three nights and then left on Friday. How come?
Answer: His horse’s name is Friday.
25. How would you rearrange the letters in the words “new door” to make one word? Note: There is only one correct answer.

25. How would you rearrange the letters in the words “new door” to make one word? Note: There is only one correct answer.
Answer: “one word.”
26. What is at the beginning of eternity, the end of time, the beginning of every end, and the end of every place?

26. What is at the beginning of eternity, the end of time, the beginning of every end, and the end of every place?
Answer: the letter “e.”
27. Two boxers are in a boxing match (regular boxing, not kick boxing). The fight is scheduled for 12 rounds but ends after 6 rounds, when one boxer knocks out the other boxer. Yet no man throws a punch. How is this possible?

27. Two boxers are in a boxing match (regular boxing, not kick boxing). The fight is scheduled for 12 rounds but ends after 6 rounds, when one boxer knocks out the other boxer. Yet no man throws a punch. How is this possible?
Answer: the boxers are women.
28. A two-volume dictionary (A-M and N-Z) is placed on a shelf with the two books side by side in alphabetical order. Each volume is two inches thick, with the covers being one-eighth inch thick. If a book worm starts on page one of volume one and eats his way to the last page of volume two, how far does he travel?

28. A two-volume dictionary (A-M and N-Z) is placed on a shelf with the two books side by side in alphabetical order. Each volume is two inches thick, with the covers being one-eighth inch thick. If a book worm starts on page one of volume one and eats his way to the last page of volume two, how far does he travel?
Answer: 1/4 inch. (If you are still puzzled by this one, place two books side by side on a shelf and see for yourself.)
29. A lily pad doubles in size every day. If on the 60th day the pond is filled with the lily pad, on what day is the pond only half covered?

29. A lily pad doubles in size every day. If on the 60th day the pond is filled with the lily pad, on what day is the pond only half covered?
Answer: the 59th day.
30. There is one word in the English language that is always pronounced incorrectly. What is it?

30. There is one word in the English language that is always pronounced incorrectly. What is it?
Answer: “incorrectly,” of course.
31. How many times can you subtract the number 5 from 25?

31. How many times can you subtract the number 5 from 25?
Answer: Once. Think about it.
32. How much dirt is in a hole that is 3 feet deep, and 6 inches in diameter?

32. How much dirt is in a hole that is 3 feet deep, and 6 inches in diameter?
Answer: None. It’s a hole.
33. An electric train is traveling southwest at 95 miles per hour, and the wind is blowing northeast at 95 miles per hour. In which direction does the smoke blow?

33. An electric train is traveling southwest at 95 miles per hour, and the wind is blowing northeast at 95 miles per hour. In which direction does the smoke blow?
Answer: There is no smoke; it’s an electric train.
34. Two mothers and two daughters were fishing. They managed to catch one big fish, one small fish, and one fat fish. Since only three fish were caught, how is it possible that they each took home a fish?

34. Two mothers and two daughters were fishing. They managed to catch one big fish, one small fish, and one fat fish. Since only three fish were caught, how is it possible that they each took home a fish?
Answer: There were only three people involved — a grandmother, her daughter, and her daughter’s daughter (i. e., her granddaughter).
35. What can go up a chimney down, but can’t go down a chimney up?

35. What can go up a chimney down, but can’t go down a chimney up?
Answer: An umbrella. (I love this one!)
36. Jeff had 17 rings and all but 9 were dropped down the drain. How many did he have left?

36. Jeff had 17 rings and all but 9 were dropped down the drain. How many did he have left?
Answer: nine, of course.
37. A clerk in the butcher shop is 5 feet 10 inches tall. What does he weigh?

37. A clerk in the butcher shop is 5 feet 10 inches tall. What does he weigh?
Answer: Meat. After all, he is a butcher!
38. Two men play five games of checkers. Each man wins the same number of games. There are no ties. Explain this.

38. Two men play five games of checkers. Each man wins the same number of games. There are no ties. Explain this.
Answer: Each man is playing someone else.
39. A man gave one son 10 cents and another son was given 15 cents. What time is it?

39. A man gave one son 10 cents and another son was given 15 cents. What time is it?
Answer: A quarter to two. (Isn’t that awful!)

40. An explorer was captured by a tribe whose chief decided that the man should die. The chief was a very logical and honorable man and gave the explorer a choice.
The explorer was to make a single statement. If the chief judged the statement to be true, the explorer would be thrown over a high cliff. If the chief judged the statement to be false, the explorer would be eaten by lions. What statement did the clever explorer make to force the chief to let him go?

40. An explorer was captured by a tribe whose chief decided that the man should die. The chief was a very logical and honorable man and gave the explorer a choice.
The explorer was to make a single statement. If the chief judged the statement to be true, the explorer would be thrown over a high cliff. If the chief judged the statement to be false, the explorer would be eaten by lions. What statement did the clever explorer make to force the chief to let him go?
Answer: “I’ll be eaten by lions.”
Think about it. The chief can’t throw the explorer to the lions because to do so would make the statement true, and he can only do that if the statement is false. Furthermore, he can’t throw the explorer over a cliff because, if he can’t throw the explorer to the lions, the statement is false, and he can only throw the explorer over a cliff if the statement is true.
What a dilemma!